27th January 2023
This is really an oil sketch. I had seen this valley when studying a map of the area. It is near Kirby Underdale and Thixendale, with Bishop Wilton hidden somewhere below. I had not been before now as I knew that this view would have been impossible to see as it was obscured by trees. However as I approached just after mid-day, the sun illuminating distant fields, I could see the valley exposed, the trees had been felled. So I hastily got off the steep road and managed to park and wandered about looking for a vantage point. I found a place and ferried my equipment from the car, setting up a three by two feet canvas. I also was determined to continue using just the three primaries, plus white. I had a couple of hours of reasonable light left and began outlining the view. I had to pack up after a while as a fine drizzle began to fall. The weather became greyer, the sun losing its struggle as a westerly pushed precipitation towards me. This location is 700 feet above sea level and it soon became too cold to continue. Andre stopped and we talked about the tree felling and his involvement with mountain rescue. The land here is owned by Lord Halifax who residence is nearby Garrowby Hall. I was reminded that when painting, I had met some of his staff at Kirby Underdale, where I remembered that they had been very helpful. I may work this up or revisit to start another canvas, when I can spend longer there, it is an amazing view. I left very little space for the skyline and have just indicated the huge Drax power station. It was, initially hidden by haze revealing itself as the weather cleared.
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